The famous Alsager Tree features a painting of a face around a nose-like protrusion from its trunk
A vandal has chopped off the nose of the famous Alsager Tree in a 'horrendous' act of vandalism. The Alsager Tree, on Sandbach Road North, has always featured a painting of a face around a nose-like protrusion from its trunk.
But last week it is believed someone used a chainsaw to cut off the tree's nose. Now residents have slammed the vandalism as 'disgraceful'.
Thankfully, a kind-hearted resident has managed to glue the nose back on, but locals still fear the vandal will be back to finish the job. The tree has had a face painted on it since the 1970s and has become a landmark in the community - it even has its own Facebook page - (
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David Bayes, aged 51, from Alsager, said: "I cycle past here quite a lot and I was aware that someone had cut into it last year and I was aware people were trying to vandalise the tree.
"Every now and then someone comes along and touches up the face and they did that a few weeks ago. But when I cycled past the other day I thought I was seeing things.
"I didn't stop as I was in a rush but I was shocked when I saw the nose had been cut off with a chainsaw.
"One of the locals has come along and tried to reattach it. I don't know why they're vandalising it.
"I have a family with young children and when someone visits we often walk around here and the tree puts a smile on their faces which is very nice. I've lived here for 12 years and I believe the tree has been here for a long time, I believe they call it the clown tree.
"I feel like attacking this is like attacking the local people in a way. It's been here ever since I've lived here and it's even got its own Facebook page. It puts a smile on people's faces which is lovely.
"I'm worried they're going to come back and damage it again. I've got in touch with the council to see about a tree preservation order, because if you damage a protected tree you can be fined up to £20,000 and that would put a deterrent on it.
"I'm just a bit gutted, it's a real shame."
Tim Robinson says the tree had a face when he was growing up in Alsager in the 1970s. The 44-year-old said: "I think it's horrendous that someone has done that.
"I grew up in Alsager until I was 18 and when we come back into Alsager to visit my mum, when the kids see the tree they know they're near grandma's.
"I can't believe it, it's disgraceful. It's always had a face since I lived in Alsager in the 1970s, at least 40 years."
And Dave Ward-Christopher, aged 47, from Alsager, said: "It's shocked me, I've walked past it for the last eight years and you get used to seeing it. I'm glad someone has been able to fix it.
"A lot of people notice the tree when they come here and somebody comes and repaints the face and brings it back to life. It's a conversation starter, it's a landmark and a lot of people use it for directions."